A Saturday in Tours, Vouvray & Loire Valley, Tours, France

One Saturday in Touraine with friends: Foreau in Vouvray, tapas above Saint-Gatien, the Château de l'Islette and an evening on the Indre.

Some Saturdays just fall into place. This one was a gift to old friends from Paris - a couple we first met in Shanghai years ago - who had come down to spend the weekend with us. They wanted to see "our corner" of the Loire Valley, and we wanted to show them the version of Touraine we love: a winemaker who still does the talking himself, a brand-new rooftop opposite a Gothic cathedral, a Renaissance château with no entry queue, and an evening apéro on the banks of the Indre.

We left Tours mid-morning for Vouvray and didn't get home until well after sunset. Here's how it played out, and how you can do the same.

Our day started in the cellar of Vincent Foreau at the Domaine du Clos Naudin, on the Croix Buisée hill above Vouvray. Vincent is the third generation of Foreau winemakers - his grandfather André started the estate, his father Philippe built its reputation as one of the great names in Loire chenin, and Vincent has been quietly running things for the last few years. He answers the phone, opens the door himself, and pours every glass. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).